Joseph Cook, a resident of St. Augustine, spends his free time searching for treasure on the beaches of St. Augustine using a metal detector. Despite having been metal detecting for 25 years, Cook does not search for profit but rather as a way to do good things. Recently, Cook found a diamond ring on the beach worth $40,000 and was able to return it to its rightful owner. The couple, who had lost the ring while on vacation from Canada, had approached Cook about it a month prior. Although Cook couldn’t find the ring that day, he continued to keep…
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City of St. Augustine Offers Free Parking, Shuttle for Sing Out Loud Festival
The Sing Out Loud festival in St. Augustine, Florida will provide free parking and shuttle bus services on September 22nd and 23rd. As part of the festival’s emergency response plan, the Historic Downtown Parking Facility will be used to ensure public safety during the multiple performances at Francis Field. There will be a free shuttle service to the Visitor Information Center from three parking locations. These locations include 198 & 212 West King Street at the intersection of US1 and King Street, the St. Johns County Health Department at 200 San Sebastian View, and the San Marco Lot at 301…
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Jared Bridegan’s Former Spouse Arrested, Faces Charges in 2022 Jacksonville Beach Homicide
Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, the ex-wife of Jared Bridegan, has been charged with his murder in February 2022, according to State Attorney Melissa Nelson. Gardner-Fernandez is facing charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit murder, and child abuse. She was arrested by ATF agents in West Richland, Washington, and will be extradited to Duval County. The State Attorney’s Office intends to seek the death penalty against Gardner-Fernandez. Bridegan, a software engineer and father of four, was shot multiple times after encountering a deliberately placed tire on Sanctuary Boulevard in Jacksonville Beach. His young daughter was also in the…
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Infamous ‘Blue House’ in Vilano Beach Meets Its Demise
A well-known house in Vilano Beach, known as the “blue house,” has been demolished after facing delays due to a sea turtle nest discovered underneath. St. Johns County initially deemed the home unsafe and scheduled its demolition in May. However, in June, a sea turtle nest was found under the property, leading to a halt in the demolition process. County environmental officials extended the pause last month to ensure the hatchlings had safely left the nest. Finally, after receiving the green light, the house was torn down on Thursday. The beachfront lot, excluding the house, is currently listed on Zillow…
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